Sugar & Spice (Mýa album)

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Sugar & Spice
Studio album by Mýa
Released December 3, 2008
(see release history)
Recorded 2007—2008
Genre R&B, dance-pop, pop, riddim, reggae, soul, hip hop
Length 55:27
Label Manhattan/Planet 9
Producer Mýa Harrison (also exec.), D. Botts, Mike "Trauma" D., Michael Duque, Riddim Fingaz, Loren Hill, Stevie Hoang, Jimmy "Klev" Juarez, KO Tha Trakaholik, Rich "Nieze" Shelton, The Smith Brothers, Kevin Veny, Duke Williams, Leroy Williams, Yonny
Mýa chronology
Liberation
(2007)		 Sugar & Spice
(2008)		 K.I.S.S.
(2011)
Alternative Cover
Perfect Edition
Singles from Sugar & Spice
  1. "Paradise"
    Released: October 31, 2008
  2. "Wish You Were Here"
    Released: August 5, 2009

Sugar & Spice is the fifth studio album by American recording artist Mýa. It is her first studio album to be released (overseas) by Manhattan Recordings—an R&B Japanese independent label in Japan on December 3, 2008; following her departure from Universal Motown in early 2008.[1][2]

Sugar & Spice was Harrison's first of many independently—released projects through her own label imprint Planet 9. The album (project) came to surface when her album; 2007's Liberation was leaked in Japan after her former label Universal Motown forgot to pull it back from release in that territory without Harrison's knowledge. Instead of spending a year and "hundreds of thousands of dollars" in court suing her record label, Motown/Universal, she opted out of her contract. From there, Japan asked her to record more albums exclusively for the Japanese market because Japan loved Liberation.[3]

Recorded between the months of September 2008 and November 2008, production was primary handled by a variety of low—profile producers; enlisting the help of Arkatech Beatz, Riddim Fingaz, The Smith Bros, and Duke Williams among others.[4] Harrison, took full creative control co-writing the entire album with producer Christopher Moore and served as executive producer. Guest features included rappers Tre, Faith Boogie, and dancehall musician Sean Paul. In her own words, Mýa described the album as "a compilation with all positive energy and song content."[5]

The album spawned one single; its first and final single the riddim—inspired "Paradise," was released October 31 2008.[6]Sugar & Spice debuted at number fifty-three on Japan's Oricon Albums Chart.

Contents

[edit] Background

Prior to Mýa recording and releasing her first independent album (project) overseas. Harrison released three successful studio albums in the United States; 1998’s Mýa, 2000’s Fear of Flying and 2003’s Moodring. Back in 1998, Mýa released her debut, self-titled album, which peaked at No. 13 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.Fear of Flying (2000) fared even better at No. 7, with the single "Case of the Ex" reaching No. 2 on the Hot 100 chart. In 2001, she took home a grammy for "Lady Marmalade," her massive No. 1 single with P!nk, Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, and Missy Elliott. A role in the hit film Chicago and other acting opportunities followed. After she released Moodring in 2003, with the exception of a popular stint on Dancing with the Stars in 2009 (she finished second), it seemed as if Mýa had left the entertainment industry.[3]

In 2004, after the Moodring album, she ended up in a year long litigation with management. In late 2005, Harrison made a transition within the Universal system from Interscope to Universal Motown. In 2007 her fourth studio album Liberation was accidentally released in Japan when the release date changed. At the time when she was with Motown/Universal; her lawyer advised that she don't waste time & money taking the issue to court, so Harrison decided to go independent instead. Japan loved the Liberation album so much, that a company by the named Manhattan Recordings located there approached her about doing business with them. Harrison released her first independent project titled Sugar & Spice: a year later after her split with Motown in Japan in 2008.[7]

[edit] Conception & Production

Production on Sugar & Spice was handled by a variety of less-known producers. Harrison started producing the album in September 08'. The album's lead single "Paradise" was produced by Riddim Fingaz, a native of Jamaica who has produced and worked with a lot of reggae stars such as Ky-Mani Marley, Sean Paul and Wayne Wonder. "Almost Naked" was produced by Young Yonny, a young producer who lives in Cleveland, Ohio. Yonny previously worked a lot producing for rappers Lil' Wayne and Trina, but also produces R&B music. Harrison and Yonny worked together two years ago on other various project prior to Harrison's fifth studio album Sugar & Spice. Singer-songwriter Stevie Hoang, a producer in the UK was asked to contribute two songs to the album ("Sold On Your Love", "One For You").

Harrison said she chose to cover Diana King's "Shy Guy" because it was a favorite childhood song. Another track, "Music Be The Music" incorporates 80's dance music. In interview when asked why she chose to put a song like this on the album, Harrison replied, "because I like to dance and I like to party." Cry No More, a ballad is about a man having to endure suffering while he's away from his significant other. Among Mýa's favorites songs on the album; the mid-tempo track "Ego Trippin'" a song about women who rarely apologize in certain situations and the up-tempo dance number "Back to Disco". Through this album, Harrison said, "listeners should get a feel for various feelings; further more saying I just want to empathize with others with my experiences. We all are different, each day will have a lot experiences." "In the words of Tteiu, Sugar & Spice means to have a wonderful life. This album is a little sugar, a little spice, it's two side of Mýa."[8]

[edit] Tracklisting

[edit] Standard Edition

No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
1. "Must Be The Music"   Mýa Harrison, Christopher Moore Jimmy "Klev" Juarez 4:55
2. "Paradise"   Harrison, Moore Riddim Fingaz 3:24
3. "Sold On Your Love"   Harrison, Moore Stevie Hoang 4:30
4. "One For You"   Harrison, Moore Stevie Hoang 4:06
5. "Almost Naked"   Nia Myricks Yonny 3:39
6. "Cry No More"   Harrison, Moore D. Botts 4:23
7. "Ego Trippin'"   Harrison, Elizabeth Wyce The Smith Brothers 4:06
8. "Let's Go To War" (introducing Faith Boogie) Harrison, Moore, Faith Waldron Yonny, Harrison 3:05
9. "All In Your Mind"   Harrison, Moore Leroy "Mr. Lee" Williams 3:02
10. "Shy Guy"   Kingsley Gardner, Diana King, Andy Marvel, Harrison KO Tha Trakaholik, Duke Williams 4:03
11. "Money Can't Buy My Love"   Harrison, Moore Michael Duque 4:50
12. "Back To Disco (70's Disco)"   Harrison, Moore Mike "Trauma" D. 4:28

[edit] The Perfect Edition

No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
1. "Wish You Were Here" (featuring Che'Nelle)     4:12
2. "Paradise (Ryan Leslie Remix)"   Harrison, Moore, Ryan Leslie Ryan Leslie 3:42
3. "Sold On Your Love"   Harrison, Moore Stevie Hoang 4:30
4. "One For You"   Harrison, Moore Stevie Hoang 4:06
5. "Almost Naked"   Nia Myricks Yonny 3:39
6. "Cry No More"   Harrison, Moore D. Botts 4:23
7. "Ego Trippin'"   Harrison, Elizabeth Wyce The Smith Brothers 4:06
8. "Let's Go To War" (introducing Faith Boogie) Harrison, Moore, Faith Waldron Yonny, Harrison 3:05
9. "All In Your Mind"   Harrison, Moore Leroy "Mr. Lee" Williams 3:02
10. "Shy Guy (DJ Hasebe Remix)"   Kingsley Gardner, Diana King, Andy Marvel, Harrison, DJ Hasebe DJ Hasebe 4:03
11. "Money Can't Buy My Love"   Harrison, Moore Michael Duque 4:50
12. "Back To Disco (70's Disco)"   Harrison, Moore Mike "Trauma" D. 4:28
13. "Must Be The Music"   Mýa Harrison, Christopher Moore Jimmy "Klev" Juarez 4:55
14. "Lock U Down" (featuring Lil Wayne) Mýa Harrison, Scott Storch, Dwayne Carter Scott Storch 3:37
15. "Fallen (Remix)" (featuring Fatlip & Tre) Harrison, Moore, Tre Hardson   4:53
16. "Fallen (Part 2)" (featuring Tre) Harrison, Moore, Tre Hardson Rich "Nieze" Shelton, Kevin Veny, Loren Hill 3:44
17. "Ayo!" (featuring DJ Kool) Chris Henderson   3:53
18. "Girls Dem Sugar" (featuring Beenie Man)     4:28
19. "Sugar Daddy" (featuring Cuban Link)     3:51
20. "Paradise (DJ Mayumi Remix)"       3:42

[edit] Chart

Chart(2008) Peak
position
Japan Oricon Albums Chart[9] 53

[edit] Release history

Region Date Format Edition Label
Japan December 3, 2008[10][11] Digital Download, CD Standard Manhattan Recordings, Planet 9
August 5, 2009[12] The Perfect Edition

[edit] References

  1. ^ Bass, Andrew (2007-08-15). "Interview: Mya, R&B Sensation". Associated Content. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/08/30/entertainment/main1948497.shtml. Retrieved 2008-10-29. 
  2. ^ Nero, Mark Edward (2007-01-01). "2007 R&B Music Preview". About.com. http://randb.about.com/od/top5lists/ss/2007Preview_8.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-29. 
  3. ^ a b "Mya Talks 'K.I.S.S.' Deluxe Album, New 'Catty' Single, & Trina Collabo". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/news#/column/the-juice/mya-talks-k-i-s-s-deluxe-album-new-catty-1005684752.story. Retrieved 2012-01-07. 
  4. ^ "More Hot Records! Arkatech Beatz Working With MYA!". Official Arkatech Beatz website. 2009-03-25. http://www.arkatechbeatz.com/index.php/section-blog/28-current-users/16-mya-arkatech-beatz-hot-records. Retrieved 2009-06-20. [dead link]
  5. ^ "Mýa: More Than A Songstress". W.A.N.T.S. Lifestyle. http://wantslifestyle.com/2010/02/09/mya-more-than-a-songstress/#more. Retrieved 2010-02-09. 
  6. ^ "Paradise - Single". iTunes. http://itunes.apple.com/jp/album/paradise-single/id294207693. Retrieved 2012-01-10. 
  7. ^ "Mya Interview with 4EightMedia". four8media.com. http://www.four8media.com/exclusive.htm. Retrieved 2012-01-21. 
  8. ^ "Maia, "What is that girl in need of sugar and spice"" (in japanese). barks.jp. http://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000046173. Retrieved 2011-07-03. 
  9. ^ "ORICON STYLE" (in Japanese). Oricon.co.jp. http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/794473/1/. Retrieved 2011-01-21. 
  10. ^ "Sugar & Spice". iTunes. http://itunes.apple.com/jp/album/sugar-spice/id297438009. Retrieved 2011-07-08. 
  11. ^ "Sugar & Spice". HMV Japan. http://www.hmv.co.jp/en/product/detail/2807493. Retrieved 2012-01-09. 
  12. ^ "Sugar & Spice (The Perfect Edition)". HMV Japan. http://www.hmv.co.jp/en/product/detail/3634354. Retrieved 2012-01-09. 

[edit] External links

Mýa
Studio albums
Mýa (1998) · Fear of Flying (2000) · Moodring (2003) · Liberation (2007) · Sugar & Spice (2008) · K.I.S.S. (2011)
Mixtape
Compilation album
Tours
Smokin' Groove Tour (1998) · Lilith Fair (1999) · MTV European Tour (2000) · House of Blues Tour (2001) · House of Blues Tour (2003) · Seagrams Live Tour (2007)
Filmography
In Too Deep (1999) · Chicago (2002) · Volcano High (2000) · Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (2004) · Shall We Dance? (2004) · Cursed (2005) · Swap Meet (2006) · The Heart Specialist (2006) · The Metrosexual (2007) · Cover (2008) · Love for Sale (2008) · The Penthouse (2010)
Related topics
Mýa singles discography
Mýa
Fear of Flying
Moodring
Liberation
Sugar & Spice
Beauty & The Streets Vol.1
K.I.S.S.
Promotional
Soundtracks
Collaborations
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